Ed Reed Suspension Repealed

November 18, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (88) catches a pass as he is hit by Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Ravens won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

Ed Reed had his suspension appeal hearing today with Ted Cotrell. After about 2 hours The NFL announced that Reeds suspension had been repealed and that he would pay a 50,000 fine instead. This is a huge coup for Reed and the Ravens. The general consensus was that Reeds appeal would fall on deaf ears and there was a very slim chance of winning. The theory was that the appeal was about following the due process of the suspension system.

Reeds $50,000 fine is almost $400,000 less than the game check that the suspension would have cost him. Reed will play this weekend and for the foreseeable future, but he needs to tread carefully. This is 2 helmet to helmet hits this season already and the NFL has tried to suspend him once already. if he hits helmet to helmet again, even unintentionally, he will likely be suspended and will not win another appeal.